Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 19th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.
jsmith,
Avalanche Canada
Very large persistent slab avalanches remain likely to human trigger, especially at treeline and above.
Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Several naturally triggered persistent slab avalanches up to size 3 (very large) and numerous wet loose avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported on all aspects and elevations on Monday.
The majority of the persistent slab avalanches were reported near Golden.
Snowpack Summary
A weak surface crust forming overnight will break down quickly throughout the day.
A widespread, hard crust down 40 - 110 cm with weak facets above continues to be the primary layer of concern for human triggering of very large persistent slab avalanches.
Cornices have become large and looming, and are more likely to fail during periods of warming.
The bottom of the snowpack is generally weak and faceted, with the potential to produce very large avalanches. The most likely areas to trigger this deeply buried weak layer are steep, rocky areas in the alpine with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, 3 to 5 cm of snow (above 1400m). 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Friday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, 5 to 10 cm of snow. 5 to 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C. Freezing level 800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches to run full path or even longer.
- If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak facets above is down 40 to 110 cm. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in very large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 20th, 2024 4:00PM
